District authorities in the old Tehri town today began evacuating residents after the historic town inched closer to submersion, with the water level in the Bhagirathi  river reservoir of the 2400 mw Tehri hydel project crossing the danger level and inundating several areas. Top officials are supervising the evacuation process.

At 1100 hours the water level had risen to 648 metres, the danger level, submerging some parts of Old Tehri. Authorities immediately swung into action and began evacuating all those still living in the 187-year-old town, once the capital of Tehri kingdom.

The administration had recently served notices to nearly 44 people, asking them to leave Old Tehri. However, they people are still staying on, in the hope of getting a better rehabilitation package.